South Park: Dragging Me Down

Torment

Kenny was tired.

The previous night had been a combination of absolute shit, and the most wonderful evening he'd ever experienced. It was all thanks to being invited to a party he didn't even want to attend, and locking lips with a certain Miss Testaburger.

They'd kissed! Kissed of their own free will! She even iniated it!

He didn't know what this meant from here on out, so even if Wendy never spoke to him again, he decided that that moment had still been worth going to the party for.

He could just never tell Stan.

Speaking of his friend, Kenny had noticed that him, amongst lots of his other classmates, had conveniently taken ill and were having the day off, probably due to the aftermath of the party. Students that were off included Stan, Cartman, Tweek, Craig, Clyde, Bebe, Red, Token, and Jimmy- the list was practically endless!

Kyle hadn't been feeling too bad and being the teacher's pet he was, decided to come in because he hated missing school, so was currently glued to Kenny's side as they strolled down the corridor together.

"Man, it sure is quiet today. I wonder how Stan's feeling?" the red-haired boy questioned.

Kenny just shrugged. "Rough, probably. I did tell him to go easy on those jello shots but I think he was trying to down them all at once to impress Wendy or something."

Kyle sniffed, "Probably. He's been doing a lot of stuff like that for her lately. He's desperate to win her back."

"At least he's going about it the right way." Kenny smirked, the irony not lost on him.

The two rounded the corner and saw the slumped form of a person slowly walking towards the canteen. On closer inspection the boys realized it was Pip.

"Frenchie made it in, then." Kyle acknowledged.

Kenny hardly heard his friend as he was too focused on Pip's body language. If he hadn't already known Pip at this point then he probably wouldn't have noticed anything wrong with him. But since he did...

Pip was walking stiffly. The plastered smile that usually adorned his face wasn't there today, and was instead replaced by a sullen expression accompanied by blank eyes. The Brit looked totally withdrawn. Haunted, almost.

Kyle and Kenny approached him from behind, then passed him and entered the canteen ahead.

"Keeping himself to himself, as usual." Kyle continued offhandedly.

"Only because none of his bullies are in." Kenny observed. When he realized what he said, he swiftly backtracked. "More fun for us then, eh?"

"Would be if I wasn't so tired. All I want to do is sleep, to be honest." Kyle admitted.

"You've got Garrison's history class for that." Kenny grinned, nudging his friend who started to laugh.

"Fair point!"

~~~~~

Pip rigidly walked down the school corridor, completely lost in his thoughts. He had the events of the previous night still ringing in his head and they wouldn't go away, no matter how hard he tried to push them into the back of his mind.

He thought they'd be in bed...

"Where the hell have you been? You're supposed to be here by half four at the latest, not half past two in the pissing morning! Do you realize how stressed out I've been?" she screamed.

"Just what the FUCK are you wearing?" he yelled.

"You look like a whore!" she shouted.

Pip tensed up as he recalled being dragged by his hair into the kitchen. His scalp still felt sensitive to the touch even now.